Your function

This postdoctoral position with a duration of 6 months is part of the research project “The Normative Integration Regime: How Differential Expectations Shape Immigrant Societies”, funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and led by Dr. Philipp Lutz.

Project Description

Beyond formal immigration policies, societies hold unwritten expectations about how immigrants should behave, but we currently lack systematic evidence on these informal rules. This project investigates the social norms in Dutch society towards immigrants and examines the extent to which those norms differ from expectations held toward native citizens. Specifically, the study addresses critical questions: Do people expect more from immigrants than from others? And do they think society is stricter than it actually is? To map these expectations across everyday behaviors (such as civic participation, cultural practices, and social interactions) this research surveys 2, Dutch residents. By comparing what people personally believe with what they think others expect, and examining whether identical behaviors are judged differently depending on who performs them, the study aims to reveal how informal expectations shape integration debates and policy preferences in diverse societies.

Role and Responsibilities

The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to an emerging research agenda on integration norms in immigrant societies and develop the study design jointly with the principal investigator. This involves both literature review as well as survey design and implementation. In addition, you will have the opportunity to develop and pursue your own research ideas within the broader topic of the project.

Your profile

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher who:

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What do we offer?

We offer a challenging and rewarding postdoctoral position within a vibrant, ambitious, and socially engaged Department of Political Science and Public Administration. At the VU, you are embedded in an interdisciplinary research environment that fosters substantial academic and professional development. You gain the opportunity to co-author the research articles resulting from the project. 

In return for your efforts, we offer you:

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples: